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Sinema Announces Nearly $750,000 to Flagstaff-Based Agriculture Training Veterans Program

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 The program aims to increase the number of Arizona veterans pursuing careers in agriculture through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive training.

Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema has announced $749,952 to Flagstaff’s Painted Desert Demonstration Projects, Inc., funding designed to support a training program for Arizona veterans pursuing careers in the agriculture industry.

 “We’re proud to announce critical support for Flagstaff’s training program that will empower Arizona veterans to build successful careers in agriculture by helping build meaningful relationships and connections with other Arizona farmers and veterans,” said Sinema.

 The program aims to increase the number of Arizona veterans pursuing careers in agriculture through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive training. The program’s teaching curriculum includes 33 different classes on topics ranging from horticulture – the science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and other plants – to personal finance, a network of host farms willing to admit participants for one-week internships, and dynamic support for participants to move beyond the program and develop successful careers.

The senator’s office states that participation in this program will allow Arizona veterans to meet and connect with other veteran farmers and agriculture professionals. QCBN

Army Veteran Calmed by Pit Bull Service Dog

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Everhart, who lives in Tucson, says Bennett saved his life. His only complaint is that Bennett gets more attention.

“Not all disabilities are visible,” declares a patch sewn to the vest of Bennett, the service dog of Nic Everhart. Everhart and Bennett are a striking, unusual pair: Everhart is an Army veteran with non-combat PTSD; Bennett is a pit bull — not your average service breed. Their stories are equally unique and how they ended up together is truly inspiring.

Everhart’s Story

Between 20% and 30% of combat veterans suffer from PTSD annually, depending on where and when they are deployed. Everhart never deployed or saw combat, making his situation less common; his PTSD derives from the plummet in his physical and mental health after a shoulder injury sustained in a 2013 training exercise progressively worsened. Anxiety, night terrors, depression and constant irritability with spikes of rage added to Everhart’s chronic physical pain. This led to a year of binge drinking and eventually a DUI. “I wasn’t an alcoholic,” he said, “but I was self-medicating.”

Two major, disturbing incidents sparked his wake-up call: first, an attempted suicide in 2018; later, uncontrolled rage at his mom, who then encouraged him to consider a service dog for PTSD. Everhart embarked on a six-month search to find a program, but nearby organizations did not have dogs ready. He temporarily gave up in frustration, until he spent two weeks taking care of his brother’s German shepherd.

Impressed by the dog’s ability to intuitively notice and soothe his mood changes, Everhart was convinced he needed a companion animal. His PTSD-fueled temperament issues got him researching breeds labeled aggressive. He wanted to be able to relate to his future dog. He found the American Pit Bull Foundation (APBF) website, where he learned of their shelter-to-service program. Operation Sidekick pairs vets with pit bull service dogs. This Charlotte, North Carolina, group saw an opportunity to save people from PTSD-provoked military suicides and pit bulls from being euthanized.

After years of feeling broken, abandoned and shamed, Everhart felt a special kinship with pit bulls, who he believes have been similarly stigmatized. He immediately began communicating with APBF Founder and CEO Sara Ondrako, who would coach him through the extensive, interview-heavy process. Pairing humans with service dogs is neither quick nor simple. As Everhart said, “It’s not just, ‘Here’s a dog, here are the commands, go forth’…” The process requires intensive vetting and training of both parties. Two months into this, Ondrako called him with the news: they’d found a potential canine candidate. Everhart travelled to Illinois to meet the now one-year-old Bennett. If the two bonded, they could launch into training.

Bennett’s Story

Bennett was in a litter of 10 American Staffordshire Terriers puppies, also called American Pit Bull Terriers, who all contracted parvo, a highly contagious virus. Given to a rescue organization, seven survived with help from a partner veterinarian. They were then donated to APBF, where Bennett was the sole qualifier for the service training program.

When Bennett met Everhart, they seemed to be a perfect fit right away. Ondrako was amazed by how quickly they bonded, declaring them “…peas in a pod.” Those who see them together in public may notice how Bennett lies crossways to Everhart, using his body as a protective barrier.

Bennett has helped Everhart socially, bringing out his natural calm. He’s highly perceptive and adept at noticing the slightest cues of rising anxiety, from changes in breath rate or smell, to nervous ticks like leg-rubbing. Once cued, he employs a progression of tools to get Everhart’s attention: nudges and nose “boops” against the leg; next, a quick yelp. If neither works, he’s trained in deep pressure therapy (DPT), and will sit on Everhart’s lap or — during night terrors — his chest.

With the vest on, Bennett is a hyper-aware medical service dog. When the vest is off, he’s a rambunctious 2-year-old. However, with or without the vest, he bounces back into work mode if he sees Everhart showing any signs of anxiety.

Everhart, who lives in Tucson, says Bennett saved his life. His only complaint is that Bennett gets more attention. QCBN

By Melissa Barrow

For more information about Operation Sidekick, visit https://apbf.dog/programs/os/.

Small is Big When It Comes to Shopping Locally

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Local businesses seem to know how to relate to, and take the time to remember, their neighbors.

Numbers tell a story. We all love stories, but statistics, not so much. All businesses start small. Maybe it’s that “aha” moment of discovery about how to build that perfect mouse trap everybody’s been waiting for. Maybe it’s a really big idea about how to grow apple trees in the desert. Remember that phrase, “Necessity is the mother of invention?” It’s true!

To illustrate, let’s do the numbers just for a moment. There are 33,185,550 small businesses in the United States. That’s a big number! When you hear about small businesses, what does that mean? Those are businesses that employ 61.7 million Americans, which equals 46.4 % of private sector employees. Small businesses are 99.9% of all U.S. companies. Most of these businesses have fewer than five employees. There’s “small” and then there’s “micro.” Micro might be a single photographer who takes the little league team photos or a married couple working in their sandwich shop from dawn to dusk to keep the lights on.

When it comes to small, it can’t get much smaller than the internet screen on a smartphone that connects a small business to the whole world. Kind of blows your mind if you stop and think about it. So, just don’t think about it too much. Keeping up just isn’t good enough; now, a business must be traveling with the speed of light. If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late; and if you’re late, well, just forget it.

Hiding in plain sight, hidden gems in a local community are often small businesses that are like the stitches in a quilt that hold it together. “Big” is not necessarily bad, but big has farther to fall if it fails. Entrepreneurs and creative artsy-craftsy folks will always find a way to recover. Have you discovered a hidden gem lately? It’s not just a good idea to shop local, shop small; it’s good for the local community and the country and the whole planet. Small is really big.

Do you recall the legendary Monty Python’s Flying Circus? Somehow back then, and even now, with odd characters and silly walks, there are a few lines that still ring true. “My brain hurts” is one that comes to mind. There’s a tendency to strive to be smarter than everybody else. But is the smartphone always smarter? Maybe, sometimes. Not all the time.    AI (artificial intelligence) will never replace the intuitive, creative, curious mind and the compassionate heart of a human being. But our brain might need to rest and “reboot” now and then.

No matter what the question, the answer is always going to be: Focus and simplify. Find a quiet place to pause the pace, stop the chatter and appreciate your surroundings. This is where you play your favorite music, dim the lights a bit, make a few entries in your journal or let a friend know you’re thinking about them. How about lighting that little candle over in the corner? Your favorite fragrance is sure to add a soothing feeling. Candlelight can transform a simple meal to a special dinner or transition a crazy day to a quiet evening. It can turn an uncertain first date to a memorable, romantic occasion. Where would we be without candles on a birthday cake?

A big part of “small” is customer service. Local businesses seem to know how to relate to, and take the time to remember, their neighbors. Prescott, “Everybody’s hometown” is a pretty unique title. Worth repeating and celebrating, from “micro” to “small” and even to a few “big.” QCBN

By Denise Jenike

Denise Jenike is the owner of Armadilla Wax Works in Prescott.

Courtesy Photo: Local businesses, like Armadilla Wax Works, appreciate those who shop local and support small businesses. 

Celebrating their Loss

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 “Only in an organization like TOPS do the members care for each other as family,” said Prescott TOPS member Mary Sylvester.

Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) members have more to celebrate than saying good-bye to unwanted pounds. The national Milwaukee-based weight-loss  organization is celebrating 75 years of helping people live healthier lives.

 “Our Arizona TOPS queen is Betty Kromminga from Tucson, who lost a total of 83 pounds. We celebrated her success story at our TOPS Regional Fall Rally that took place in Prescott this month,” said Arizona TOPS Coordinator Teri Boyd.

 “I’ve been in TOPS for 27 years,” said Kromminga. “I feel great and really enjoy TOPS. What really helped me was getting rid of all the cookies, ice cream and candies in the house. I really wanted to reach KOPS (Keeping Off Pounds Sensibly) status and now I have.”

 Prescott Valley TOPS member Barbara Sayle shed 80 pounds and won the State Division Award last year. “I feel so good.  I can move much better and wear normal-sized clothes. I’m in a standstill and hoping to lose a little more weight,” she said.

Another member, Lynsey Young, lost 54.6 pounds. Currently, there are four Prescott TOPS chapters.

 “Only in an organization like TOPS do the members care for each other as family,” said Prescott TOPS member Mary Sylvester.

 “We will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of TOPS with an open house at our headquarters in Milwaukee. Since the organization was founded by Esther Manz in 1948, TOPS has improved the quality of life for millions of men and women by providing group support and education to help members Take Off Pounds Sensibly,” said TOPS Publisher/Editor Barry Gantenbein. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

For more information about TOPS, visit tops.org or call 800-932-8677.

Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney: Prescott Chapter Member Barbara Sayle and Arizona TOPS Queen Betty Kromminga changed their lives and let go of extra weight. 

Federal Funding Jump-Starts EV Charging Stations in Northern Arizona

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Fast chargers planned for I-17, I-40, U.S. 89 and State Route 64.

Last month, Ed Kron and his friend, Joe Caruso, decided to take a drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff in Kron’s new electric Lucid sedan.

“This is the first time I’ve driven an electric car up here, and I was a little nervous,” Kron said. “They tell you one thing [about the range], but it’s another thing when you’re using the air conditioning, and you’re going uphill. And I have this heavy Italian next to me!”

Kron said he was worried he and Caruso would run out of juice before they made it to an electric vehicle charging station in Flagstaff. “I told him he was going to have to get out and push!” Kron said with a laugh.

Luckily, the friends pulled into the Electrify America charging station in the Walmart parking lot just in time. The location on East Huntington Drive is one of only two direct-current, fast-charging stations in Flagstaff that aren’t exclusively for Teslas.

New federal funding is expected to soon make driving an electric vehicle in Northern Arizona less precarious. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program will fund $76.5 million to establish a reliable network of Level 3 fast-charging stations along the state’s interstates and highways. The funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill passed by Congress in 2021.

In Northern Arizona, the goal is to build Level 3 EV charging stations spaced no more than 50 miles apart on I-40, I-17, U.S. Highway 89 between Flagstaff and the Utah border, and State Route 64 between Williams and the Grand Canyon.

“Having highways to and from the Grand Canyon targeted for rapid-charging stations is part of reducing ‘range anxiety’ that will allow drivers to travel with more confidence because they’ll have access to additional charging stations during their travels,” said Garin Groff, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Range anxiety is real for potential electric vehicle buyers, said Isaac Sala, a sales consultant at Findley Toyota in Flagstaff. The dealership is taking orders for Toyota’s first all-electric SUV crossover; however, Sala says some buyers are still worried about battery life and performance, particularly in cold temperatures.

Part of the federal push to build more EV charging stations is to alleviate those fears and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles nationwide. In Arizona, the number of electric vehicles on the road increased to just over 40,000 in 2021, according to an ADOT report. That number is expected to increase tenfold by 2030.

Nationwide, sales of electric vehicles have jumped from 3.2% in 2021 to 5.8% in 2022, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book. The group forecasts EV sales will be north of one million this year.

Now, federal and state governments are racing to subsidize an EV charging network for all those new vehicles on the road. The federal NEVI program provides an 80% match to build the stations, said ADOT spokesman Groff. Private sector developers will cover the remaining 20%.

Groff estimates the cost of a new station could range from $500,000 to $700,000. But that could be higher depending on the extent of electrical upgrades needed.

The Level 3 fast-charging centers will definitely help EV drivers traveling through Coconino County, said Rick Drury, owner of Country Club Towing in Flagstaff. He said he gets at least two calls every weekend from stranded EV drivers needing to be towed. “They use up so much power going up the hills,” he said.

The NEVI formula requires each EV station to have at least four direct-current fast chargers with combined charging system ports. These Level 3 chargers deliver a lot of power quickly, with charger sizes ranging from 50 to 350 kilowatt hours for cars. They can typically charge a car in 15 to 60 minutes, Groff said. In contrast, a Level 2 charger, often found in shopping malls, hotels and parking garages, can only deliver enough power in one hour for 25 miles. A Level 1 charger is for home use and charges at a rate of 4 miles per hour, Groff said.

While there are several Level 3 Tesla charging stations in Northern Arizona, Groff said the connector on Tesla chargers currently only fits Tesla cars. For now, Tesla chargers can’t help drivers like Kron, whose Lucid Air EV comes with two years of free charging, if he can find the right kind of charging station.

“I’m glad they’re putting in more stations,” Kron said, adding that he thinks people are nervous about buying electric cars for fear of being stranded.

A study by the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project predicted that transitioning to EV vehicles will save Arizonans billions in fuel costs through the next three decades, while creating new opportunities for economic growth in the state. Filling up a 40-kilowatt hour battery at an Electrify America port currently costs drivers about $19, two-thirds more than charging at home.

Planning and construction using NEVI funds will take place across the next five years, Groff said. So far, NEVI funding in Arizona has only been designated for interstates and highways that have been named Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC). The National Highway System has also named State Route 260 from Payson to Show Low as an AFC, as well as I-17, I-40, U.S. Highway 89 and State Route 64.

In the next five years, additional highways in Northern Arizona will be shortlisted for EV station deployment. “U.S. (Highway) 160, on the Navajo Nation, has been identified as a route to include in the next plan update,” Groff said. ADOT is also asking the public to let them know what additional routes should be considered for AFC nomination. Comments can be emailed to AZEVPlan@adot.gov

Despite the charging obstacles, Kron said he is excited to drive his first electric vehicle around Northern Arizona. Of course, he likes the free charging from Lucid Air for two years. But what he really loves is the way his head snaps back in his seat when his Lucid leaps from zero to 60 in just over two seconds. “It’s way faster than my ‘71 Chevelle,” he said with a grin as he finished charging up for the drive back to Phoenix. QCBN

By Shelley Smithson, QCBN

Photo by Shelley Smithson: Kron and his friend, Joe Caruso, charge Kron’s new Lucid Air at the Electrify America station in Flagstaff.

Carmen Frederic Receives ATHENA Leadership Award

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ATHENA symbolizes strength, perseverance, success for Quad Cities women.

An invisible, yet powerful, thread of overcoming adversity to achieve long-held dreams wove its way through the audience of more than 100 attendees during the 4th Annual Quad Cities Leadership Awards as women came together to honor and celebrate each other Sunday, Sept. 24, at Starting Point in the Prescott Gateway Mall.

As Yavapai College President Dr. Lisa Rhine and Prescott College President Dr. Barbara Morris shared deeply personal stories of their own challenges, women could empathize with their struggles, some could see themselves in their stories, and many fought to hold back tears.

Carmen Fredric Shelters Those in Need

With a standing ovation and roar of applause, Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) Executive Director Carmen Frederic was honored with the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award. As she accepted the prestigious award, she didn’t share her story, but later reflected on how alcoholism and homelessness in her family motivated her to rise above her circumstances and then to commit herself to a career of supporting and encouraging other women.

“The Athena award is such a high honor and something I will always remember and treasure for the rest of my life!” she said in a Quad Cities Business News interview. “The award itself is beautiful and placed currently at the shelter office for all to see and enjoy. It will be a talking piece and maybe an inspiration to all of the women in shelter to aspire to someday, a pathway to be taken to be compassionate and build up other women as a goal in their life.”

Frederic left home for college after graduating from high school. “I helped to open the first teen pregnancy shelter in my hometown and worked for the education service district helping struggling families keep their kids in school. My biological father was a severe alcoholic and experienced homelessness himself. I often ran into him in my hometown when I would be working with my own clients.”

Today, she is credited with leading the evolution of PASS from a winter shelter in a church basement to a 26-bed facility at its own location, plus the creation of two transitional houses. The organization now serves about 180 women and children a year.

“All of these challenges in life have made me a better person and given me the insight and empathy in my work at the shelter,” she said.

Tracy Rogers Helps Students Stay in School

Cheered on by friends and associates from Yavapai College, YC Radiology Program Director Tracy Rogers was in disbelief as her name was called to join the stage to receive the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

“I was in total shock,” she said of the moment.

Rogers told QCBN how she burst into tears hearing about Dr. Rhine’s difficult childhood. “Her story is very similar to my upbringing. So many people have faced things you’d never expect. She is such an inspiration. I look at her and think, ‘That could be my future!’”

Rogers recalls a time when she could not imagine herself as a successful professional. “Growing up in a poor home, we didn’t know if we were going to have Christmas, and work was a priority to help provide for the household, not school. But I realized school is what makes a better life possible. I just kept pursuing education.”

Through a difficult divorce three years ago, she felt her world crumbling around her. As a single mom, the thought of balancing all of life’s challenges felt impossible. “Women especially find themselves in this situation, but I had an amazing career as an X-ray tech. I am so thankful to have this career. I always wanted to be an instructor for the [YC radiology] program. Before I knew it, I became the program director!”

As with many women, Rogers says she struggles with feeling like an imposter in her work. “Every day I feel like I’ve got to prove my worthiness. I think, ‘Is this real? Am I really doing this? Am I working hard enough?’”

At YC, her colleagues call her a transformational and servant leader. She established an emergency fund to support students struggling with unexpected expenses and recently received the Great Ideas for Teaching (GIFT) Fellowship Award for Teaching Excellence.

“This award reminds me that I have something to continue to be worthy of,” she said. “I just feel really empowered now to keep moving forward and inspired to help other women.”

Prescott Woman Showcases Women

As with the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, QCBN added another award this year. Breeanya Hinkel accepted the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award for her business, Prescott Woman Magazine.

“I’m honored and surprised to be the recipient of the first ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award,” said Hinkel. “Typically, we love to be the ones honoring other women and it is such a privilege to have stood on the stage and be recognized along with other outstanding organizations.”

Hinkel and Prescott Woman Magazine worked with Quad Cites Business News to bring the ATHENA Leadership Awards to the region in 2020. “I’m thrilled that Quad Cities Business News has kept the tradition of ATHENA going and for their commitment to honor women throughout the area.”

ATHENA Wisdom

Keynote speaker Julie Jones motivated the attendees to “Stop Waiting, Start Living,” which is also the name of one of her books. The former police officer and SWAT team member reminded the audience that tomorrow is not guaranteed. She urged women to be authentic and live the lives they were born to live.

ATHENA Leadership Program Founder Martha Mayhood Mertz delivered a recorded message congratulating the nominees. ATHENA International President and CEO Traci Costa reminded audience members that there is still work to do to support women in leadership. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Hear more from Julie Jones and Martha Mayhood Mertz on Zonie Living at StarWorldwideNetworks.com.

Fall Harvest Brings Families to Mortimer Farms

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Pumpkin Festival is the biggest event of the year.

Mortimer Farms has sweet corn and 50 types of pumpkins available during its month-long Pumpkin Festival in October. While the festival is every day, there are more events on the weekends.

Mortimer Farms has 54 vegetables and fruits growing at various times of the year. Mortimer also has an area where visitors can pick their own. In addition, Mortimer has a greenhouse for growing fruits and vegetables all year. Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are plentiful in October.

All of the events are for people of all ages.

Marketing Director Ashley Mortimer says the Pumpkin Festival is their most popular event of the year. Visitors get to see a working farm and there are extended events and outside vendors during the weekends.

“There is a lot to do, and this is a time for adults to act like kids. We’re family-friendly. That’s what we’re all about,” she said, adding that she enjoys seeing people pick the fruits and vegetables off the vine.

“The closer it is to the vine, the more it amplifies the taste and it makes it more personal,” she said. “It helps guests connect with food. A lot of our ingredients are grown on the farm.”

Kids also love the farm animals that include chickens, cows, horses, donkeys and goats. A scenic pond is home to ducks and turtles.

“We provide the setting to help people connect with farm animals,” she said.

On Friday nights, there are barn dances. Weekend evening activities include a fire dancing show, lumberjacks racing with logs, and highfliers in a motocross demonstration.

All rides and shows are included in the admission price.

The Mortimer Farms Market and Deli is a popular stop, with the farm club sandwich being a local favorite. Some customers buy the cucumber relish that comes on it.

“The relish is so good, with tomatoes and onions in it,” she said.

Mortimer leased the land in 2010 and was able purchase it in 2020.

Her dad, Gary, owned Mortimer’s Nursery and a cattle ranch. Today, Ashley and her parents (Sharla and Gary) all work the farm, ranch and nursery together, with the ranch providing the beef and pork that is sold at the farm.

“We all partner with Mother Nature,” she said.

Mortimer Farms is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, with extended hours on weekend nights.

Mortimer also hosts weddings and corporate parties. QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Photo by Stan Bindell: Ashley Mortimer says the Pumpkin Festival is their most popular event with activates for all ages. “There is a lot to do and this is a time for adults to act like kids! she says. 

Village Camp in Bellemont Offers Cabins, RV Sites and Ownership Option

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“We are offering ownership for our glamping Adventure Cabins, which also sets Village Camp apart from other glamping resorts.”

As glamping continues to trend with today’s travelers, one of the most recent Northern Arizona glamorous camping resorts is Village Camp Flagstaff, which features a diverse range of accommodations.

Village Camp Flagstaff offers posh cabins, spacious RV sites and opportunities to own mountain retreats. Guests or owners will have base camps with the amenities of a boutique hotel, such as a resort-style swimming pool area and bistro.

“The whole concept is to promote living simply with a smaller environmental footprint – from more efficient use of living and outdoor spaces to shared amenities,” said Village Camp founder Scott Roberts. “Environmental stewardship and taking care of public lands and open spaces in Village Camp’s backyard is a primary focus. Village Camp outfitters will play a key role in teaching Leave No Trace principles through programming and events, including wilderness safety and preparedness, wildfire education and how to travel like a local in Flagstaff.”

Village Camp was developed by Roberts Resorts, an Arizona family-owned business with more than 55 years of experience developing outdoor resorts. “We used this experience, and our own love of RV camping and the outdoors lifestyle, to find the right balance of amenities and activities to enhance the outdoor experience,” said Roberts. Village Camp Flagstaff is the second location of the recently launched brand. Village Camp Truckee in California opened recently. A Village Camp in Moab is next on the docket.

“We carefully designed Village Camp to blend in with the natural environment and create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living, for example, using minimalist designs and natural materials like wood, stone and lots of glass, to showcase the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape,” said Roberts. Village Camp Flagstaff delivers stunning views of the San Francisco Peaks from its 50-acre site in Bellemont, surrounded by Coconino National Forest.

Glamping Adventure Cabins at Village Camp Flagstaff are constructed by Cavco Industries, the leading manufacturer of park models, cabins and cottages. They are fully furnished and provide sleeping arrangements for four to eight people. Pet-friendly cabins are also available.

Shared amenities include a community center, pool and spa, general store, bar and bistro, lounge area with indoor firepit, outdoor patio and event lawn. The property offers a Summer Concert Series and movie nights as well.

Mountain Retreat Ownership Option
“We are offering ownership for our glamping Adventure Cabins, which also sets Village Camp apart [from other glamping resorts]. Our brand promise is ‘Creating shared memories through outdoor adventure’ because we are trying to build a community of people that want to connect with the outdoors and other like-minded individuals and families,” said Roberts.

Adventure Cabin ownership includes property maintenance and access to Village Camp’s professionally managed vacation rental program. Ownership perks include early access to event tickets, celebrity chef dining experiences and winetasting events.

RV Sites with Shared Amenities
RV sites are reportedly larger than many other RV resorts. Upgrades include firepits or a full fireplace and grill. Amenities including programs, activities and events.

According to Grandview Research projections, the global glamping market measures $3.15 billion for 2023 and is expected to grow 10% annually to $5.93 billion in 2030. QCBN

By Stacey Wittig, QCBN

Village Camp Flagstaff

1 VC Drive, Bellemont, AZ

villagecamp.com/resorts/flagstaff

A Pathway to Permanent Housing

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Findlay Hyundai and Buick GMC raising money to benefit local shelter.

It’s like a personal tsunami. Imagine being a single mom with three children and you have a car accident. Suddenly, you are faced with a range of challenges. You must deal with insurance issues and you need to get another car. You are living paycheck to paycheck and without a vehicle, and you begin to miss work. Next, you can’t pay the rent and you and your children are out on the street. You have no family to help with childcare and housing.

The people at Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) say this kind of scenario is not unusual.

However, local auto dealers are hoping to make in change in such people’s lives. During the month of October, Findlay Hyundai will be donating $250 to PASS for every new or pre-owned vehicle sold on site. In addition, Findlay Buick GMC will be donating $250 to PASS for every new Buick or GMC sold on site. “Our Findlay dealerships are owned by the Findlay family, and our mission is to help make the local communities that we serve a better place by giving back and supporting great local non-profits and civic organizations,” said Findlay Hyundai General Manager Ben Hollibaugh.

The Findlay Hyundai and Buick GMC stores that are partnering in this effort are located on the same campus on Willow Creek Road in Prescott, along with the Findlay Toyota and Subaru stores.

All these Prescott dealerships are part of the Findlay parent organization, with more than 30 dealerships in the network. “We believe that Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) needs and deserves to be supported because they make such a huge impact here in our local community,” Hollibaugh said. “Many of us here at Findlay Hyundai and Findlay Buick GMC have kids of our own and to be able to support an organization like PASS that does so much to assist our local children and families is a mission that truly is near and dear to our hearts.”

Hollibaugh said each $250 donation will be added up through the month and then the dealerships will make an overall donation in November. “We are estimating around $4,000 to $5,000 in donations for PASS,” said Findlay Buick GMC General Manager Aaron Weinzetl. “That should be the figure from us [at the Buick GMC store].

“The Findlays have always been about giving back and reaching out to the community,” Weinzetl continued. “We believe that PASS does all the heavy lifting. We are just glad that we can help support.”

Founded in 2007 and granted non-profit 501(c)3 status in 2009, PASS has served more than 3,000 women and children and provided more than 105,000 bed nights. Located in the heart of Prescott on North Rush Street, PASS is a temporary, emergency 26-bed shelter for “guests,” including women 18 and older, and women with children and female veterans. There is a separate area for mothers with teen male children.

PASS Executive Director Carmen Frederic, who started work at PASS in 2009, left for a few years but came back, for a total of 12 years. She says she feels blessed to be with the non-profit organization.

“I find joy in each day at PASS, but my special memories are the relationships built between the guests we serve, the staff I work with, the volunteers who serve, the community that gives endless help and the Board of Directors that continuously supports and backs PASS,” she said.

Frederic says she is particularly inspired by “watching people overcome challenges and are stronger for it, and then come back to share how their life has changed for the better.”

For her, it’s personal. She has family members who have struggled with obstacles and if not for a helping hand, they would not have succeeded, she says.

Staff at PASS includes two full-time employees, Frederic and Katee Norris, director of programs, as well as three part-time staff members, Director of Marketing Julie Brown Pflueger, Emergency Shelter Case Manager Danielle Hollinger and Transitional Housing Case Manager Susan Erickson.

The shelter service receives no state or federal funding and relies on support from the community and grant funding. Each guest has a one-on-one meeting each week with a case manager. Through PASS, the transition rate into a permanent housing situation ranges from 81% to 87%.

“My biggest inspiration at PASS is that I get to walk beside women every day who have to make hard and scary decisions for their lives,” said PASS Case Manager Danielle Hollinger. “Seeing each woman grow more independent and confident as they journey from homelessness to permanent housing, there is nothing else quite like that.”

Along with providing 90-day emergency shelter, PASS offers six programs that assist guests from crisis to stability. One of these programs includes two transitional housing buildings that serve single women and full families, including fathers.

“A single dad with two teenage kids just moved in today. Now that he finally has a stable place to be, he will be able to work full time to get back on his feet,” said Pflueger.

There are also a number of older guests.

“This year we have had a slew of older women. The oldest was 89,” Pflueger said, who noted that two unrelated women in their 70s and 80s now live together in an apartment.

“They are sharing rent in a transitional apartment. One has $900 from Social Security, the other $800, so together they can afford it; independently they can’t.”

Younger guests also benefit from shelter programs, like the two pregnant teens that came through PASS last year. “One teen with a history of substance abuse had lost her three children to Child Protective Services,” Pflueger said. “She gave birth while staying with us. They removed that baby at the hospital. She worked with our case manager to get stable, find a job and a place to live.”

The teen was able to have her baby back and ultimately share custody of her three other children with her partner.

The money raised through the Findlay sales fundraiser will help with basic needs,” she said. “A donation of only $28 can mean a new chance for a guest in need, a chance to feel safe, a chance to feel supported with dignity and a chance to get back on their feet,” according to the PASS website.

Larger investment projects that have required funding include the recently purchased transitional four-plex residence that currently houses four low-income families. Upcoming projects needing funds are window replacement, HVAC installation, a paved parking area, roof replacement, and maintenance and upkeep of the emergency 26-bed shelter.

The community will have a chance to visit PASS during an Open House from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25. QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

For more information, visit PASS on Facebook, Facebook www.facebook.com/makeadifferencePASS/ and at the website, www.prescottshelters.org

Photo Courtesy of Clay McCauslin: Gathered together at Prescott Area Shelter Services are Findlay Buick GMC General Manager Aaron Weinzetl, PASS Director of Programs Katee Norris, PASS Director of Marketing Julie Brown Pflueger, PASS Executive Director Carmen Frederic, Findlay Hyundai General Manager Ben Hollibaugh and Findlay Hyundai General Sales Manager Joey Listul.

Wingfield Bread on the Rise

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Rachelle Wingfield continues to entice customers with her bakery and café.

The late rancher, landowner and businessman William Gilmore Wingfield would be proud to know that his great-great-great-granddaughter is carrying on the family name in Camp Verde, doing what she loves: feeding people.

“Serving people is what I love and that’s why I opened my bakery in 2012,” said Wingfield Bread Co. owner Rachelle Wingfield. “My faith and my love for my family is what keeps me going.”

Wingfield’s interest in baking began when friends showed her how to grind wheat berries into flour. “I was fascinated by the process and started baking bread and cinnamon rolls for my children. It was low-cost, fairly easy to make, healthy, and they loved it.”

She started selling bread at farmers markets and found that people “really liked it.”

Along with her increasing number of loaves, success was on the rise.

Today, her cozy and rustic bakery café is located in the building that bears her name, along with a lot of history, Wingfield Plaza. “My family came to Camp Verde in the late 1800s and owned and operated the Wingfield Plaza for 50-plus years. I remember thinking how cool it would be to have my bakery in the building my ancestors once owned. So, one day I asked if I could rent a space and they had an opening,” she said. “My journey to here was a supernatural one and it’s just amazing how it’s all turned out.”

“The Wingfield building has transferred hands quite a few times, but it is the oldest commercial building in the area,” said Chambers Realty Group broker Justin Chambers, whose offices are housed there.

The evolution from handcrafted artisan breads and pastries to a full breakfast and lunch menu is a satisfying mix that locals love. Breakfast offerings include a “quiche of the day,” croissants, sweet rolls and breakfast sandwiches. On Saturday mornings, their adaptation of Georgia Wingfield’s Biscuits & Gravy is a favorite.

“Rachelle makes excellent food. Everyone loves it and she has people coming from all over to dine there,” said Chambers, adding that the smells that seep down the hall into his office are fantastic.

Lunch includes a varied mix of hot and cold sandwiches, a fun variety of salads topped with homemade dressings, and sauces made in-house daily.

“I believe WingField Bread Co. is the only large-scale sourdough bread maker in the Verde Valley,” said Suno Chocolate owner Joanne Kim, who worked at Wingfield Bread Company until recently. “I was amazed at how hard-working and resourceful Rachelle is, and her bread is incredible. She uses real butter in her croissants and sometimes mills her wheat.”

The sourdough starter has been cultivated for well over a decade.

Born in Mesa, Wingfield grew up around the Valley of the Sun area and came to Camp Verde in 2010. Her mom and son help with the business remotely. “They do all my accounting and manage production and other projects,” she said. “My dad visits often and helps out a lot, too. We are all very close.”

Wingfield’s 18-year-old daughter, Vera, has worked in the bakery since she was 9 years old. “I really like working with my mom and I appreciate the history behind this building and the old-timers that come in and share their stories.”

In the popular book, “Images of America Camp Verde,” by Steve Ayers and the Camp Verde Historical Society, a chapter called “The Store” is dedicated to the Wingfield Plaza Building. “It was the hub of the community,” said Ayers. “At one time, the post office was housed there, along with a bank and a mercantile that sold just about everything from Navajo rugs to frozen pies.”

The deep roots of the Wingfield family are celebrated on the walls of the bakery with posters and pictures chronicling the events of yesteryear.

“I love their food and their service is great,” said Camp Verde resident Laurie Smith. “About every other week, I drop in for a loaf of sourdough bread. When we’ve having company, I always pick up a carrot or chocolate cake. Their breakfast sandwiches are really good, too.”

Free time for Wingfield is spent with her family. One of her goals is to acquire more commercial accounts. “I would like to continue to serve the community here and be a part of making someone’s day special.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Wingfield Bread Co. is located at 564 S. Main St. in Camp Verde. For more information, call 928-499-0585 or visit
wingfieldbread.com.